Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-02-21
Mrseellarlegus.
Take Tour Corset on.

90 deal! / don't know what ia the mat
ter with me. am so tired all the time
can't stand anything; cant walk three
blorks. | have neuralgia every little
while. I'm good for nothing, and yet
there seems to be no disease about me. |
wish you'd tell me what als me-" The
speaker was beautiful girl, about nine
/ teen years old Nature had intended her
! for magnificent Specimen of woman
hood. She was not less than five feet
seven inches in height. but with shoulders
and hips broad in proportion, she meas
ured only twenty-five inches around the
waist.
or course, she asserted that she did not
dress tight; bnt when told that in order
to have good health she must leave off her
corsets, she rebelled. "Whv, how would
| | look without cOrSet?' she exclaimed !;
I'd he a perfect fright" What reply was
there to be made to so convincing a state
menl? But by the light of science her
whole BODY was illuminated. and to the
und rslanding vision she was perfect
fright, as it was. never see such fig
ure, that am rot reminded of Hiram
Powers query in regard to a fashlonably
alfred lady: II wonder where she puts
her lvei?'
1t is easy enough to prove that the
breathing capacity is actually essened by
the corset. even when not worn tight.
ANY one who wishes to Try the expert
ment Can sit down and begin to draw in
he d, e. est breath possible When the
limit of the Corset i reached unclasp it
and see how widely its clasp can be sep
Grated by the action of the lungs alone
Then it YOU bear in mind that these
muscles have been weakened by nOn-use,
and thai with full liberty they would in.
crease in strength, you will be able to
imagine how much the corset has lessened
The vital capacity. | saw fine illustra
ton of his lew days since, when |
called up IN lady whose literary labors
are wonderful She received me in a
neat but loose dress, in which every
organ of the body had full play She re-
nce.i in her perfect physical freedom.
She ran up and down stairs with the
llyhlness Of Il child, and felt no palpita-
ton OF heart or oppression of lungs.
l. ,ter in the day she dressed to g out up.
on the street with me. and put on a corset.
81 do it in Difference to the opinion OF my
friends" she explained. They complain
If outrage their sense IF propriety by ap
pearing without one, but do penance all
the time | wear it,"
We started off at her usual brisk pace,
but in "A very little while she said TO ms.
Il can't walk SD fast when I've a corset
on. cant breathe you see" And so to
accommodate her diminished powers OF
brea hing we siacke, ed our pace, and
soon she commenced TO look weary, her
CHEEKY laugh became less frequent. her
face began TO wear an anxious look. her
vital capacity was lessened, and her whole
system ielt The effect ct it. II could ac-
COM lish nothing ut ALL" said she. "if [
We're compelled to wear corse. at my
work"
asked a Young lady to sing for me the
other day. With some hesitation and
bushes she excused herself, SAYING
Rally, shall be oblig d to decline ;
the fact il, | am u>t breaking in a new
corset, and it hurts me so | can hardly
live" "Why do YOU wear it then p
On I'd look SO odd without a corset"
To me she would look tar better, Tor
could see hat her health WAS failing. her
checks palirg. her nerves starving for the
vital breath Of Gods pure air. which the
corset WAS shutting out OF her lungs.
1--WE girls are always glad to undo our
corsets anl draw long breath al night"
said one frank glrl To me. 1--WE don't
wear them light; we can put our hands
~ under them always; but it does seem
So 90 vi TO get them III and breathe j:St
"a hiy as We can "-DR MARY A. ALLEN
IN Hcraid of HeaNh